Day 14: Alma 6 - 12

These chapters are full of so much good stuff!

I love the accounts of the angel visiting Alma and Amulek. I love their testimonies and Alma's witness of the gift of the Holy Ghost. I'm going to go back one chapter, to chapter five:

46 Behod, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath mad them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

A few years ago my mom gave me a pretty cool list of ten ways to know when the Spirit strives with us:

1.We are not easily offended
2. We feel confident in what we do
3. We are happy and calm
4. Our minds are clear and full of light
5. We are generous
6. We are glad when others succeed
7. We want to make others happy and bring out the best in them
8. We feel like praying
9. We are more serene in difficult times
10. We overcome temptations

I have found this to be true in my own life. But, what I find interesting is how well Alma and Amulek prove this throughout their experience teaching the people. 1. If these men were easily offended Alma would not have returned to the city of Ammoniha and Amulek would not have withstood the questioning of the lawyers and priests. 2. There is no doubt that these men had to have confidence in order to do what they did. 3. They are strong in their words, but never do we see them lost their cool. 4. How many times do the scriptures say that they were able to perceive the thoughts and intents of those they were teaching? That must require a mind that is clear and full of light.  5. They are generous--Amulek to Alma when he returns to the city, and what is sharing you life and testimony according to the commandments of God if not generous! 6. Alma tells the people that "great is my joy" when he learns that their faith is strong. 7. They want others to be happy and they invite them to "come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life," (5:62). 8. Alma wrestles with God in might prayer (8:10). 9. I think this one is proven throughout--serenity in difficult times--these men were in the toughest of crowds and gain strength and serenity from the truth of what they are teaching. And here is my favorite--when Amulek overcomes temptation:

11:23 Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest though that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?

I love it! What wonderful examples we have here, in additions to the treasures of knowledge and truth. These chapters--like all those before them--seem to be filled with such a wealth of doctrine and hope.

Day 8: Jacob (all of it!)

I love the question Jacob asks:

4:12 ...for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him...?

I am usually pretty good at finding excuses for things--but not this time.

I also really liked the verse right after that where Jacob teaches:

4:13 ...for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls.

In the past two days' reading, much has been written about the plainness of God's word. Sometimes, it doesn't seem that plain to me. But the more I read, the more I feel the Spirit, and the more I am able to see the plainness of it. I remember a time in high school when I needed to explain something to a teacher who questioned me--he didn't understand our doctrine on works vs. grace. I only understood it enough to know it in my heart, but not to tell him what it meant. I wish I could have had an experience like Jacob:

7:8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.

Next to this scripture I wrote in the margin simply, "Cool!" Very cool.

I love Jacobs concluding thoughts on the story of Sherem:

7:22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.

Jacob's instructions from Nephi were to write "a few of the things which I considered to be most precious" (1:2) for the "sake of our people."(1:4) That is why he shared this story. I think answers to prayers are one of the most important experiences we can have and recognize in this life. And yet, they are also one of the most difficult at times. Here we can see that they are sometimes miraculous, and completely possible.

Jacob's final words make me happy: he says "and to the reader I bid farewell...Brethren, adieu." For some reason, that that made him real to me, and his words became almost audible.